German shepherd injures another dog near Ice Caves Rd.

By Helen Davis
Cibola County Bureau

SAN RAFAEL — Animal control authorities reported another attack presumably by a German shepherd known to be loose in the Ice Caves Road area.

Grants Animal Control Officer Marian Hamilton said the shelter receive a report Tuesday morning that a dog was injured in an attack the night before in the area where Joanna Saavedra reported her cat was killed by a dog over the weekend.

Hamilton returned to the site to check a trap she set and baited Monday morning, she found the trap had been sprung and food gone. She said there was no animal in the trap, but that it was possible that the loose shepherd tripped the trap with his tail but managed to leave after taking the bait food. She added that any animal could have sprung the trap.

The dog has injured at least two dogs and killed at least one cat, but has not attacked or injured any people. Hamilton said the dog so far has shown a tendency to run when humans approach.

Hamilton attempted to catch the animal when she responded to the first report from the area.

“He was taking a nap when I got there. He ran off when I tried to catch him,” she said. She said there is no reason at this time to suspect the dog has rabies.

Animal control officers use food to attract stray dogs. Hamilton remarked that the dog did not look undernourished and might have a home in the area.

“If someone is taking care of him and he goes home at night, we will have a hard time catching him,” she said.

She suggests that people living in the area of the 400 block of Ice Caves Road keep an eye on their pets and be cautious about letting their animals roam. “There is a dangerous dog out there,” she added.

If anyone has information about the dogs owner they should contact the animal control shelter at 285-4012, the Grants Police Department at 287-2984 or the Cibola County Sheriff’s Office at 876-2040.